Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Ex-Vic Falls mayor  remanded in custody | Daily News

Former Victoria Falls mayor Sifiso Mpofu, arrested in an evening raid last week and found in possession of raw ivory, was over the weekend remanded in custody.

Mpofu, 42 who was also found in possession of a loaded pistol tucked in his waistband was arrested alongside two of his accomplices Milton Sibindi, 47 and Phathiso Sibindi, 49.

The trio appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Rangarirai Gakanje on Saturday facing charges of violating Section 82(1) of the Parks and Wildlife General Regulations Statutory Instrument 362/1990, as read with section 128(b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act, which criminalises unlawful possession of raw ivory.

The trio who are being represented by Thulani Nkala of Dube and Nkala Legal Practitioners were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to March 22.

Eleven elephant tusks were recovered from the former mayor’s home during the raid. The police are yet to give the total street value of the tusks, but Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo has since indicated that the tusks weighed 120kg.

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Source: Potraz boss's trial in false start | Daily News

Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz) director-general Gift Kallisto Machengete’s $1,4 million graft trial failed to kick off yesterday after he advised the court that he would be attending a conference in Victoria Falls.

The matter was subsequently set for March 18 and 19 for trial.

“The accused person is representing the State at a conference that is being held in Victoria Falls and for those reasons we seek to have the matter postponed,” prosecutor George Manokore said.

Machengete was appointed Potraz director-general on December 1, 2016 and it was alleged that sometime in December last year, Potraz resolved to procure CVICs, which were going to be mounted countrywide.

On February 15, Machengete, in violation of the Procurement Act approved a memo recommending sourcing of quotations for the supply of CVICs from four companies.

It was alleged that Potraz subsequently purchased 24 CVICs from B Smart Business Solutions at $70 682,95 each, totalling $1 494 104, through comparative schedule despite the fact that the value involved required competitive bidding in terms of the Procurement Act.

The court heard that Machengete, in his capacity as the chief accounting officer, signed the contract between Potraz and B Smart Business Solutions for the supply and purchase of the CVICs.
B Smart Business Solutions has since erected 20 CVICs and was paid $1 032 755,38.

The post Potraz boss’s trial in false start appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Businessman petitions Matanga over arrest | Daily News

A Harare businessman has petitioned police commissioner- general Godwin Matanga, accusing the police of failing to act in terms of the law, when they arrested him at his Borrowdale home.

According to court papers, the businessman Last Mapuranga is facing domestic violence and resisting arrest charges, which he has since denied having committed.

According to his petition to Matanga dated February 25, 2019, Mapuranga said the police visited his house in Borrowdale on February 19 in the evening using an unregistered black Mercedes Benz.

“I demanded that they must identify themselves and advise me of the charge which I was facing in line with Chapter 4 of the Zimbabwe Constitution Section 50 (1) (a) ‘any person who is arrested must be informed at the time of the arrest of the reason for the arrest as read with (ii) and must be informed of his right promptly. Unfortunately, they started harassing me and subsequently left,” Mapuranga said.
He said after realising that the police conduct was not consistent with the law, he together with his 13-year-old son, decided to go and report the matter at Borrowdale Police Station.

The businessman said upon his arrival at the police station he was not attended to for an hour, before he was handcuffed and thrown into the holding cells.

Mapuranga said he was detained together with his son, who later sneaked out at around 3am to go home.
“At around 13:45 hours, Wednesday, February 20 2019, I was released and whisked to court on form 242 ‘request for remand’ inscribed bail not opposed,” he said, adding that at the time of being taken to the court, he had not been advised of the charge he was facing and had not signed a warned and cautioned statement.

However, he also sought audience with the officer-in-charge only identified as Maripita in a bid to file criminal charges of criminal abuse of office against the police officers that arrested him only identified as sergeant Gumbi, constables Mudenda and Hondonga.

“After a serious heated argument, he (Maripita) reluctantly ordered one sergeant to allow me to open the reports (under) RRB No. 3890221 and RRB No. 3890222. I would like to aver that the arrest and detention of myself and of the minor is unlawful and it was a clear violation of the supreme law of the land, the Constitution of Zimbabwe and a serious abuse of public office,” he said. Matanga has not yet responded to the letter.

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Source: . . as his allies lock horns | Daily News

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s staunchest allies are set to lock horns in the battle to lead the party’s youth assembly at the forthcoming elective congress in May after more than four threw their hats into the ring.

The death of MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai in February and the subsequent rise of Chamisa as his successor have seen the party’s youth assembly emerging as power brokers.

Despite playing a significant role in Chamisa’s controversial rise which was characterised by allegations of violence meted out against former MDC vice president Thokozani Khupe — the youth assembly once again proved its growing influence by ensuring that its members win during last year’s primary elections.

But with congress coming on May 24, youths who fought in the same trenches will battle it out at the make-or-break congress as they seek to replace outgoing youth leader Happymore Chidziva.
Those who have shown interest in the position of youth assembly chairperson include secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa, MP for Tafara-Mabvuku James Chidhakwa who is a member of the assembly’s national executive, Obey Sithole and Dennis Juru; all aligned to the Chamisa camp in the MDC factional matrix heading into the congress.

Another Titanic tussle expected is for the position of deputy chairperson where Cliff Malinga from Midlands Province will square off with Cecila Chimbiri from Mashonaland Central.
For the position of youth assembly secretary-general, Ostalos Siziba and Eric Gono, both from Bulawayo Province will face off.

Siziba confirmed his candidature saying if nominated he had a programme to grow the party in terms of its appeal both locally and internationally.

“We hope to give vibrancy to the organisation both locally…its ideological identity as a social democratic party, inculcating thought leadership in engaging with Africa and the world,” Siziba said.
On the other hand, Harare councillor Denford Ngadziore and Patrick Danga who is based in South Africa will contest the position of organising secretary.

Ngadziore also pledged to work on ensuring that youths are visible in the MDC through programmes that advance their being.

With Chamisa’s position likely to be challenged by one of his deputies Elias Mudzuri and secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora.

“Almost all the guys in the youth assembly belong to Chamisa’s camp and one wonders why they don’t just reach an agreement on one candidate per position so that they can outflank Mwonzora’s camp.
“Someone in the camp must show leadership and not allow this anarchy to continue otherwise people will regret come May,” a source close to the camp said on condition of anonymity to avoid falling foul to the law since nominations have not been opened up as yet.

Already vital battlegrounds such as Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Masvingo have been turned into “war zones” of intense political contestation for positions.

Nominations for the do-or-die congress are expected later this month, taking the country’s largest opposition party into a crucial phase which means different things to various constituencies making up the party.

For Chamisa’s supporters, the upcoming elective congress is more of a referendum on the charismatic 41-year-old politician who has had a tumultuous 13 months in office.

Chamisa seized the leadership of the party after the heart-breaking loss of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai who lost his valiant fight against colon cancer last year in February.

Ever since, Chamisa has struggled to shrug off accusations that he used his then assumed closeness to Tsvangirai’s widow, Elizabeth, to torpedo the ambitions of the likes of Elias Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe who were also eyeing the post.

A titanic leadership battle subsequently ensued in the party, which eventually led to Khupe forming a breakaway faction which went on to perform dismally in last year’s elections.

The general feeling among MDC supporters is that while Chamisa ultimately prevailed over his party competitors, the congress is critical as it will settle once and for all the legitimacy question dogging him.

The post . . as his allies lock horns appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Chamisa changes tact | Daily News

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa says the Church must lead the way in initiating dialogue between him and President Emmerson Mnangagwa so as to rescue long-suffering Zimbabweans who are staring at a bleak future.

However, well-placed sources in government say Mnangagwa is unlikely to be swayed by the Church which is reportedly getting its funding from foreign countries that are deemed hostile to Zimbabwe.

The insiders said the nexus between Chamisa and the Church spooked Mnangagwa from attending the prayer meeting that was organised by the Ecumenical Church Leaders Forum.

But with Mnangagwa plodding ahead with his engagements with opposition parties, albeit fringe players, Chamisa said the Zanu PF leader is behaving like an ostrich, burying his head in the sand when the economy is on its knees.

“The only way forward is a comprehensive reform programme upon nation-building and peace-building to facilitate national healing and national engagement and international realignment, in order for us to deal with the crisis there must be genuine dialogue.

“We have shouted our voices hoarse inviting Mnangagwa to a table of national dialogue to resolve these issues because nations are built on a foundation of dialogue, but engagement the ostrich way will not resolve our issues.

“The arrogant mindset will not resolve our issues, the dog-eat-dog will not resolve our crisis, we need a credible dialogue, the churches could be a consideration, or maybe former heads of States but it must be underwritten by the international community.

“This is the only answer to the cries of the people, this is the only credible answer to the rural and urban people who are suffering, we need to have a conducive environment for business, we cannot be focussing on politics all the time, the business cycle should be longer than that of politics,” said Chamisa.

Mnangagwa controversially won last year elections, just squeezing through the 50 plus 1 percent threshold.

Although Chamisa contested the outcome in a petition to the Constitutional Court, his application was thrown out.

However, the economy continues to bleed and immediate relief that was expected to come following the election is yet to arrive.

Instead the United States of America extended its sanctions on Zimbabwe alleging human rights abuses and that the people on the sanctions list are a threat to the world superpower’s global interests.
Since the July 30 contested elections, the situation has gone from bad to worse, prices of basic commodities are going up and government’s response to the economic calamities has been the imposition of more and more taxes such as the ubiquitous two percent transaction tax.

“Zimbabweans are suffering, the country is in a deep crisis the crisis is a crisis of governance, the crisis of confidence the crisis of trust, in short it is a political crisis with ramifications on the social wellbeing of the people, this is all occasioned by a disputed elections, what is surprising is that eight months after the elections there is no solution, in other countries this could have been resolved,” said Chamisa.

Mnangagwa’s plan to push for national dialogue has suffered a series of setbacks as more and more opposition parties disengage from the platform citing a lack of sincerity from the incumbent.
Several high profile politicians including Build Zimbabwe leader Noah Manyika and Daniel Shumba of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) who attended the inaugural meeting have since distanced themselves from the negotiating table citing a plethora of reasons.
Critically, the parties that have withdrawn their participation claiming that Mnangagwa is not sincere and also are demanding the inclusion of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa who snubbed the dialogue from day one.

In an interview, Shumba said the nation can decide for itself the character of the parties that are still in the so-called national dialogue.
“Zimbabweans should be able to determine the category of those who are still on the table; however, we wish them well.

“The refusal to provide a legal framework for the negotiations renders the whole platform unconstitutional,” said Shumba.
The former Zanu PF Masvingo Central legislator said on Twitter that the current efforts by Mnangagwa for dialogue are designed to hoodwink the nation into believe that there is seriousness on his part when that is not the case.

“The Constitution of Zimbabwe doesn’t provide for such a process. The absence of a willingness to legitimise the nation dialogue renders it an adventure or circus. The UDA refuses to be blindfolded or used as an extension of Zanu PF. The nation shouldn’t expect any outcomes.
“The National Dialogue fallacy is meant to clothe the fox in sheep’s clothes.
“The UDA won’t sanitise a conspiracy or be part of a betrayal of the people’s expectations.
“We’re not opportunists and won’t be part of a process that fortifies delinquencies at the people’s expense,” said Shumba.

Last week, Manyika also sent a letter to Mnangagwa indicating that he will not take part in the discussions because it was not inclusive.
“No meaningful dialogue can happen without a neutral and credible convener being agreed on to facilitate a broad and inclusive dialogue that will include trade unionists, political parties, activities, civic groups and all stakeholders to ensure that the views and interests of all Zimbabweans are represented.

“It is also my position that any dialogue that does not include the MDC Alliance and other critical stakeholders will not pass the credibility test locally and globally,” said Manyika,
Although Mnangagwa had invited all presidential candidates, the likes of Joice Mujuru who led the People Rainbow Coalition in last year’s elections and a former vice president of Zimbabwe did not pitch up, while Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity president Blessing Kasiyamhuru said he did not attend the meeting because he was no longer into politics.

“I am not a politician,” said Kasiyamhuru curtly when the Daily News asked him why he was not attending the national dialogue meetings.

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